Ahhhh!!! What a pain, I've called around, shot emails, researched from end to end of this forum, I can't get a straightforward answer... Although people on here have been very helpful- and willing to help... (including C5 Bears Fan, but i tried calling his # but its been busy, or my phones messed up one of te two!) But my question is- in my 04 Vette, I bought an aftermarket alpine stereo. I've also got an amp, and woofer- which is no biggy... Now I've also been told that I need to 1- buy a $90+ interface to connect to the radio in order to keep my stock speakers. Soooo, I bought a bracket for the front door, and 2 pairs of 6.5" speakers to replace the stock speakers, an it was only slightly higher, for a better product... Now, what harness do I need?!? Can I just get a regular GM harness now? Must I STILL get that interface harness?? And what's this I hear about tying into the fuse box as a constant power? I also bought a wire clip that converts the stock Bose speaker connection to aftermaket speaker connections so I don't have to replace the whole wire setup from the stereo to each speaker... Please help!!! I hate wasting money/time on little things like this- it was sooooo much easier on my '67 Pontiac!!! Thanks for any and all help!

 

If you're replacing all of the speakers and amps (which it sounds like you are), all you need from the car is a switched source, constant +12v, and ground. Look in the passenger footwell, in the top left corner there should be a pigtail of 3 wires taped in there somewhere (if not you'll need to tap into fuses). I can post a link to the pigtail schematics later (work internet blocks photobucket ).

Use new HU RCA outputs to supply new amps, connect speakers & sub directly to amps, run all new speaker wires (easy to do in C5). If you don't have an amp for speakers, use speaker output from HU straight to speakers.

Amp power must come straight form battery, only trigger is from HU.

 

I believe that the pac roem-vet1 (available from Dennis at DDMods) will allow you to play an aftermarket head-unit through your stock bose speakers. I don't think it's a $90 part - more like $40-$50.

If you don't do it that way and want aftermarket speakers and head-unit, just run the signal through the RCAs to the amplifier or run the speakers directly off of the head-unit.

I believe that with the basic GM harness adapter you can power your aftermarket head-unit off of the same wiring that previously plugged into your factory head-unit. I recommend this over trying to wire it up yourself unless you're really good with electrical. The C5 has enough power and ground issues on it's own without adding to the mess.

 

Link to accessory power wires schematic HERE

 

I feel your pain, finally got my first Corvette but it has a cassette player :/
Most articles show how to change up the cd changer system

Can somebody link what I would need for lets say Best Buy to install a new head unit in a 2001 Bose cassette stereo system keeping the stock speakers?

 

talk to dennis c5bearsfan on here he is a vendor and can set u up... do not let worst buy touch your car

 

I'm in the same boat.

I have the GM harness that I used in a previous GM vehicle and it states that it'll fit an '03 Vette. I also want to run the stock speakers.

I have a 1.5 DIN Pioneer that I've had for years in my '93 GMC Typhoon and now want to upgrade the music in the Vette that I just bought a few weeks ago.

Jimmy

 

DoubleDmods.com, you need the ROEM-Vet1 to replace the hu only in C5.

 

Most importantly, start with AudioControl Matrix and DQXS, it is worth the $$ and especially when you are starting from scratch. I don't think many on the forum have experienced DQXS, but it is the vette-daddy as far as audio. So if you are getting advise and they do not mention DQXS ... walk away, run even ... and then check out DQXS ...

 

Good move... you'll probably like them even better when you amp them.

Yes. If you are replacing the head unit and speakers, then all you need is a standard GM harness that you can find at Wal-Mart or any other place that sells car audio wiring harnesses.

The C5 Corvette uses a common serial bus that communicates with the various components in the car. One of those components is the radio... which is told "digitally" that the key is on and it's okay to power up. Our aftermarket head units do not 'speak' the language, so they don't know that the key is on... so we need to send it a signal (power wire) telling it that the key is on.

There are three wires connected to the head unit for power:

Black: Ground
Yellow: 12 VDC Power
Red: Accessory Power (Key is on)

So when you connect that aftermarket wiring harness to the C5 Corvette wiring harness, you will notice that the part where the red wire is located doesn't have a 'match' on the other side of the plug. So in this case, you just tape off the wire on the harness and then run an "accessory" wire from the fuse box or the plug mentioned earlier inside the passenger footwell to the head unit wiring harness. (I think the colors of the wires in the footwell harness are black/orange/yellow if memory serves me correctly... check the FAQ's at the top of the audio forum for more details.)

While this might be okay for you to do, I'd avoid it. When I did my system, I just ran new speaker wires from under the dash to each door. The reason being: The Bose EQ box thingie up under the dash above your right foot/gas pedal. I think that the rears are a direct feed, though... so you shouldn't have problems there. (I deleted my rear speakers, so I don't worry about that anymore.)

Hope this helps.